Jio towers vandalism: Reliance moves Punjab & Haryana HC seeking govt's intervention, blames 'rivals'

Reliance Industries Limited, through its subsidiary Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, in a petition mentioned to be filed in Punjab and Haryana High Court today, has sought urgent intervention of government authorities to bring a complete stop to illegal acts of vandalism by miscreants.

"These acts of violence have endangered the lives of thousands of employees and caused damage and disruption to the vital communications infrastructure," the company said in a statement. "The miscreants indulging in vandalism have been instigated and aided by vested interests and our business rivals," it alleged.

The company added that it neither buys foodgrains directly from farmers nor is in the business of contract farming. Reliance said it "has nothing whatsoever to do with the three farm laws currently debated in the country, and in no way benefits from them."

"As such, the sole nefarious purpose of linking the name of Reliance to these laws is to harm our businesses and damage our reputation," it said.

The company said it does not do "corporate or contract farming" and has not bought "any agricultural land, directly or indirectly, in Punjab/Haryana or anywhere else in India, for the purpose of “corporate” or “contract” farming.

Its retail unit which sells food grains and staples, fruits and vegetables and items of daily use through its stores, "does not purchase any food grains directly from farmers," the statement said.

"It has never entered into long-term procurement contracts to gain unfair advantage over farmers or sought that its suppliers buy from farmers at less than remunerative prices, nor will it ever do so," it added.